Generic Drug Makers Ranked in New 'Access to Medicine Index'

By Access To Medicine Index, PRNE
Saturday, June 19, 2010

Indian Firms Less Open About Efforts for Low-income Countries Than Originator Companies

AMSTERDAM, June 20, 2010 - Generic drug makers are less transparent about programs to make medicines
available to people in developing countries than originator companies inEurope and the United States. Overall, European drug companies are leading in
this area, according to the second Access to Medicine Index released today.

Compared to 2008, when the first Index was published, many pharma
companies worldwide gave more insight into their policies and actions to
increase people's access to medicines in low-income countries, researchers
said in a report underpinning the new Index. They identified more industry
initiatives than two years ago, but also see room for improvement.

"The Index 2010 reveals important progress, if only because many
companies have shown far greater willingness to open up. The Index shows
great improvements, especially in the areas of research and development, and
equitable pricing. At the same time, it shows that the industry as a whole
still has a long way to go," said Wim Leereveld, the Index's founder.

"The Access to Medicines Index independently assesses how individual
pharmaceutical companies perform in promoting universal access to essential
medicines, and is thus an important tool in improving performance," said DrCarissa Etienne, Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization
(WHO).

The Access to Medicine Index ranks 20 of the world's largest originator
pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to make sure that medicines are
made for, and reach, people in developing countries. The Index separately
ranks six global generic drug makers, reflecting their distinct role in
producing lower-cost drugs and vaccines.

The Index encourages drug companies to compete and offers investors and
others a way to compare their social responsibility records.

The generics ranking is led by Ranbaxy Laboratories followed by Cipla,
Dr. Reddy's and Mylan (all based in India).

The originator ranking is led by GlaxoSmithKline (U.K.), followed by
Merck & Co. (U.S.), Novartis (Switzerland), Gilead Sciences (U.S.), and
Sanofi-Aventis (France). Six of the ten highest-ranking originator companies
are based in Europe.

Note to reporters: for more information or interview requests, see www.atmindex.org or contact Sue-Lane Wood at Tel: +31-62-888-8965, E-mail: slwood at atmindex.org